wheels
‘Such a sleek, elegant shape is unequalled in the four-wheel world’
control system was less like an automotive nanny. No matter what the surface, comfort for the driver was superb at all times. When a colleague drove the next morning, I found that things were just as comfortable for rear-seat occupants. The only drawback is that there is not much space for your feet under the front seats, due to the electric motors that power those seats. As remarked earlier, the cabin of the new generation of
the CLS is spacious and welcoming. However, when com- pared to the simple clarity of the layout found in the AstonMartin, the central console of theMercedes seems cluttered, though things are far easier than with BMW’s iDrive system, where very few items are intuitive. As expected, fit and finish of the quality materials used is very good. When the new CLS arrives in Ireland in the spring,
the entry model will be the 250CDI. It is expected to be priced around €75,000 and will have Band B road tax, a tribute to the cleanliness of modern diesel engines. The model reviewed here will be some €10,000 more expensive.
Nissan Leaf And now for something very different, though still guar- anteed to leave you with a smile on your face – the Nissan Leaf. This fully production-ready electric vehicle
will be on sale here in 2011, with a price just under €30,000. While early electric cars had a slightly strange look about them, the Leaf is a true family car, being 4.45 metres long, similar in size and interior space to a Focus
Aston Martin Rapide
or a Golf. Its electricmotor produces 109bhp and 280Nm. As this substantial torque is available from rest, the car’s most charming feature is how it just scoots away from traffic lights, leaving a line of puzzled drivers in its wake! As there is no conventional engine, progress is uncan- nily silent, though at low speeds there is a warning sound for pedestrians and cyclists. At higher speeds, tyre noise takes over. Depending on driving style and road type, range can be
up to 150km before a recharge is required. Charging is from quick-charge points, where a rapid battery replen- ishment occurs, or overnight fromthe domestic supply in your home. In countries that use wind energy, this is a very efficient use, as this electricity is otherwise wasted at times of low demand on the grid. Tested in central Lisbon and in the countryside around
Sintra, the car was very agreeable to drive at all times, with sound handling and roadholding, helped by the fact that there is no heavy conventional engine in the front. Motorway travel was easy, too, as maximum speed is 140km/h. However, this is where the battery is dis- charged most rapidly, as little or no regenerative braking takes place. The unique importance of the Nissan Leaf is that it
is a real, everyday car, showing that electric, pollution- free transport is no longer a pipedream. Across Europe, many electric car incentives are being offered in cities, including free parking and use of bus lanes, though it appears that certain interests are reluctant to adopt the latter in Ireland. Quelle surprise!
Winter 2010 Irish Director 73
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